NBA 2019-20: Who will win the Defensive Player of the Year this season?

The NBA season 2019-20 has given so many enthralling moments to the NBA fans and it is not just offensive players who lead the charts and play an important role in team’s success but some players from the defensive end have really left an imprint with their amazing numbers. Players like Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Eric Bledsoe, and many more who have been touted as one of the best defensive players in the NBA in the 2019-20 season due to their stirring figures in blocks and steals. And when it comes to talking about the best defenders, this season has really produced some of the most memorable performances by some of the leagues’ greats of this era.

Among all those big names, Brook Lopez is the one who has actually been at his best but couldn’t really make a big name despite having a mighty presence on the court. And that has probably been because of playing alongside some of the big names in the league. The Bucks do have some individual accolades on the side in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Eric Bledsoe.

But one cannot disregard the fact of how important Lopez has been at the end of the court. The seven-foot lanky centre player has formed a strong interior due to his impeccable blocking skills and an average of 2.4 blocks per game has been an impressive figure for any player this season. He is second in total blocks this season after Hassan Whiteside who averages 3.1 BPG.

• Hassan Whiteside may be the leader among both in terms of rebounds and blocks but Brook’s defence actually helps his team get wins unlike Whiteside, who does block the shots but unable to convert his defence into an offence that instantly and constructively. It’s just that playing under some big names may have overshadowed his eminence.

• Based on his pre-existing image, not a lot of people are talking about him as a top contender. Well, that doesn’t seem to bother the Bucks as they have ensured of using him in the best possible way, making him one of the terrifying players to guard the paint and so he deserves to have at least this title this year.

• Moreover, Lopez has also opposed as many shots (256 shots) around the basket which is the fifth-most in this season and also manages to clutch the opponents to 44.1 per cent shooting from the end of the court. And adding to his accolade, he spends the maximum time on the court that shows his prowess as a complete defender.

• He may be ranked 20th in defensive win shares, but his recent record has really been magnificent as he was successful in blocking five or more shots successfully on eight occasions this season. The 31-year-old really deserves the defensive title and him winning the title could also raise his bars as he will be compared to some of the really tough contenders in the league.